Results 5,121-5,140 of 6,937 for speaker:Cian O'Callaghan

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: On amendment No. 115, we are not trying to transpose the wording of the directives into the legislation. Through the amendment, we are seeking to ensure the word "compatible", which is the key thing here, is included in the legislation. That would strengthen the Bill. It is not a radical idea for it to be compatible.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: In the context of the word "compatible", it is not about the detail, per se, because we are not listing off the wording of the directives. It is about it being compatible with-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The word "compatible" is key here. Why would we not want the Bill and this section of it to be compatible with the directive rather than simply not contravening it? That is a significant difference. It is the nub of the issue here. From time to time, various Ministers and Government Deputies like to use the phrase "best in class". I will use Government language. Simply not contravening...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Minister of State thinks not contravening the directive is best in class.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: The Chairman is entitled to his view but I disagree with it.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment 115: In page 40, lines 16 to 25, to delete all words from and including “(1) For” in line 16 down to and including line 25 and substitute the following: “(1) For the avoidance of doubt, the relevant competent authority shall, in the preparation of anything to which this subsection applies, ensure that- (a) the thing is both consistent and compatible...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I move amendment No. 116: In page 40, between lines 26 and 27, to insert the following: “(a) a maritime planning policy statement;”.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: We will not necessarily be opposing this, but I want to find out more about it. The database is only for authorisations. Does that not mean that we are missing something here in terms of forward planning? Should it not be more consistent with the standards for data and information that are set out in Article 10, for example, of the maritime spatial directive, so that the database should be...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am trying to tease out concerns about the pre-planning or forward-planning stage. Will the forward planning part be captured by this? If it is captured by this, will it be published only at the point of an authorisation at the end of the process? Is it transparent and publicly accessible in the database only at the very end? Will people be able to go onto the database to see, for...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I am not raising issues around lobbying. I am asking whether the database will capture surveys or monitoring of conditions-----

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: My point is on where there is not an authorisation. If surveys are done that do not lead to authorisation will they be captured in the database? If they are not, it is a waste of knowledge that could be useful.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: On amendment No. 122, what sort of functions does the Minister of State envisage being delegated from the Minister to MARA? Will he give some clarification on the thinking there and how wide-ranging that could be?

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Yes, but it relates to the delegation of powers to MARA.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: If the Minister of State could clarify the matter I raised, it would be helpful. On amendment No. 123, I have huge concerns. The sale of marine areas which are State-owned could be done by MARA as opposed to the Minister. Will the Minister of State clarify what areas of the marine and seabed we are talking about? Would a sale involve the land under the seabed? Does it include the area...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: We need clarification, as Deputy Boyd Barrett said, on exactly what is meant by "maritime area that is State-owned"? Is that the entire maritime area? It seems to me, reading this amendment, that it is fairly black and white that it allows the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, with the consent of the Minister, to delegate to MARA the function of selling or otherwise disposing of...

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Also on section 30, there is not public participation or consultation with any other body when the Minister decides to issue a direction, except with that body. The Minister of State might explain why that is the case.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: If this work is done and submitted but does not result in an authorisation and it does not go that far, the database will still capture the information. Building up knowledge on the marine environment is very important.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: I thank the Minister of State. This is very helpful.

Select Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Marine Planning Area Bill 2021: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Nov 2021)

Cian O'Callaghan: Given the Minister of State's helpful comments and the current wording, which would, contrary to his intention, allow MARA to sell, perhaps he will withdraw these amendments and come back with a proper wording on Report Stage. As it stands, amendment No. 123 is highly objectionable.